Turkey is warning Kurdish fighters in the border area with Syria to leave now or face consequences. The deadline for the withdrawal process is set for Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Russian troops have been moving in to prepare for patrols in the so-called “safe zone” area. 

CGTN’s Michal Bardavid reports.

On Monday, Turkey’s Defense Ministry announced they held talks with a Russian military delegation in Ankara regarding the withdrawal process of the YPG (People’s Protection Units).

Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu has stated that some YPG members have withdrawn from the agreed area but the process wasn’t completed yet.

The deadline for the withdrawal agreement ends on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 3 pm and will be critical to what happens next.

The White House first declared that Turkey would take over responsibility of ISIL prisoners as part of Turkey’s plans for a so-called “safe zone” in the region on Oct 6, even before the offensive was launched.

Turkey had agreed but also stressed, that the long-term goal would be for the foreign elements of ISIL to return to their countries of origin.

Currently, some ISIL prisons are being guarded by Turkey and Turkish backed Syrian forces and others by the YPG.

Now, Turkey wants to send foreign ISIL prisoners and their families back to their countries of origin, but most European countries have been reluctant to take them back.

So far, only some EU countries like Norway and the Netherlands, have taken back a small number of ISIL fighters’ families. The issue remains a big challenge for Turkey.